OJS System for Managing Scientific Journals: A Practical Guide for Arab Universities

Introduction: Why Do Our Arab Universities Need OJS Today?

في زمن أصبح فيه النشر العلمي الرقمي معياراً عالمياً للاعتماد الأكاديمي، تواجه الجامعات العربية تحدياً حقيقياً: إما مواكبة هذا التحول، أو البقاء خارج التصنيفات الدولية. هنا يأتي دور the OJS (Open Journal Systems)، وهو منصة مفتوحة المصدر طورتها شركة Public Knowledge Project لإدارة المجلات العلمية إلكترونياً. هذا النظام ليس مجرد أداة تقنية، بل هو بوابة للجامعات لتحقيق الشفافية، وتسريع دوريات النشر، ورفع تصنيفاتها العالمية.

In this practical guide, we will take you step by step from installation to launch, with real-world examples from the Iraqi and Arab market, and tips you won't find in official manuals. If you are planning to transform your scientific journal into an integrated digital system, this article is your roadmap. For more context on Digital Transformation the comprehensive system for universities, you can check The Complete Guide to Digital Transformation for Iraqi Universities 2026.

“The OJS is not just software; it is a new culture of scientific publishing. Universities that adopt it seriously see their citation rates increase by 40% within two years.” – Arab Federation for Libraries Report 2024

What is OJS and Why Is It the Best Choice for Arab Universities?

the OJS Arabic is an integrated platform for managing scientific journal publishing, from receiving research to peer review, publication, and indexing. It is characterized by:

• Fully Open Source: No licensing costs, only hosting and development costs.
• Supports Arabic Language: Fully Arabic interface with right-to-left support.
• Compliant with Global Indexing Standards: Such as DOAJ, Crossref, and Google Scholar.
• Scalable: Can be integrated with existing university systems (LMS, thesis repository).

Why choose it over other journal management systems?

There are several systems on the market such as Scholastica and Editorial Manager, but OJS excels in:

Steps for installing and running OJS in an Arab university environment

Installation may seem complicated, but it is a structured process. Here are the practical steps that usually take 3-5 business days:

1. Hosting Requirements

• Server: Preferably VPS or cloud with 4GB RAM and a dual-core processor.
• Database: MySQL 5.6+ or MariaDB.
• PHP: PHP version 7.4 or 8.0 with extensions like GD and mbstring installed.
• Storage: At least 20GB for files and data.

2. Installation via Softaculous or Manually

If your hosting control panel (cPanel) supports Softaculous, you can install OJS with one click. For manual installation:

• Download the latest version from the official website.
• Upload the files to the root folder (public_html).
• Create a database and a user.
• Run the installation wizard via browser (yourdomain.com/ojs).
• Select Arabic language from the start.

3. Basic Settings After Installation

• Site settings: University name, logo, journal description.
• Arbitration Settings: Enable double-blind arbitration (Double-Blind).
• Indexing Settings: Link with Crossref and Google Scholar to obtain DOI.
• Email Settings: Use a reliable SMTP (such as SendGrid) to ensure notifications are delivered.

“Expert advice: Do not start using OJS directly with your real journals. First, create a test journal and train the editorial team on it for two weeks.” – Experience of a technical consultant for Iraqi universities

Customizing OJS to suit the needs of Arab universities

The system comes with good default settings, but customization is what makes it suitable for your environment. Here are the most important adjustments:

1. Arabic User Interface

• Make sure to download the Arabic language pack from the PKP website (if not already installed).
• Set the direction to RTL in the template settings.
• Use a clear Arabic font such as "Tajawal" or "Noto Kufi Arabic".

2. Adding Local Features

• Electronic Payment System: Add a plugin for PayPal or local payment (such as Zain Cash in Iraq).
• Integration with University Systems: Use an API to connect OJS with the admission and registration system.
• Arabic Statistics: Activate Google Analytics with Arabic tracking.

3. Workflow Management

In Arab universities, the editorial team is often small. Therefore:

• Reduce the number of review stages to 3: submission, review, publication.
• Use ready-made response templates (e.g., "Request for Modifications" in Arabic).
• Enable automatic notifications for authors and reviewers.

Practical Examples from the Iraqi and Arab Market

Let's take a real example: An Iraqi university used to manage 5 scientific journals in print, with an average publication time of 18 months. After applying Scientific Journal Management System OJS:

• the publication time dropped to 4 months.
• The number of received research papers increased by 300% within a year.
• Two journals were indexed in DOAJ within 6 months.

In another Arab experience, an Egyptian university used OJS to link its journals with the Scopus database, which raised its ranking in the Times Higher Education.

Lessons learned from these experiences

• Continuous Training: Hold monthly workshops for editors and reviewers.
• Technical support: Having an internal technical team or a specialized company (such as Erticaz) for maintenance.
• Digital marketing: Using social media to attract researchers.

Common problems and solutions in OJS

Even with the best planning, you may face obstacles. Here are the most common ones in the Arab context:

How to measure the success of your OJS system at your university?

After launch, you need Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure success:

• Publication turnaround time: From submission to publication (should be less than 6 months).
• Rejection rate: 30-50% indicates serious peer review.
• Unique visitors: Monthly increase of at least 20%.
• Citations: Track them via Google Scholar and Crossref.
• User satisfaction: Annual survey for authors and reviewers.

If these indicators are positive, you are on the right track. If they are weak, you need to review the workflow or consult a specialized consultant.

“Success in OJS is not in installation, but in continuity. Many universities stopped after a year because they neglected updates and training.” – Digital Transformation Expert in Higher Education

Conclusion: Your next step towards digital scholarly publishing

OJS is a strategic investment for any Arab university aiming to compete globally. It doesn't matter if you start from scratch or develop an existing system; the tools are available, and the Arab community has accumulated expertise you can benefit from. Start today by trying the system on a test server, train your team, then launch with confidence. Remember that the full digital transformation of universities begins with such small and organized steps. For more details on the comprehensive transformation strategy, read The Complete Guide to Digital Transformation for Iraqi Universities 2026.

Do you need help installing or customizing OJS for your university? Contact via WhatsApp for a free consultation Our specialized team will help you at every step, from installation to global indexing.